Improvement in speed-indicators



7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. M. NAPIER.

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7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. M. NAPIER. SPEED-INDICATOR.

No.184653. `Pat-.ented Nlov.21,18764.

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SPEED-INDICATOR. No.184,653. Patenpea N0v.vz1,187e.

7Sheets-Sh'ee't 6. M. NAPIER.

SPEED-INDICATOR.

NL 184,553 Patented Nov. 21,1876.

- 7 Sheets-Sheet 7. J. M. N-APIER'. SPEED-INDICATOR.

Patented Nov.21, 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. NAPIEB, OF LAMBETH, ENGLAND.

lMPROVEMENT IN SPEED-INDICATORS.

Specification forming part of Lettere Patent No. 184,653, dated November 21, 1876; application iiled October 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES MURDOCH NA-V PIER, of York Road, Lambeth, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Speed Indicators,

which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This inveutionhas `for its object improvements in speed-indicators for exhibiting the rate of motion or number of revolutions being made (say, per minute) pulley, or other such rotary body, and by marine, locomotive, and stationary engines, and, generally, by engines, machinery, carriages, and instruments which have rotary parts, or moving parts from which a rotary action can be obtained.

I employ a vessel formed to contain a suitable luid, mounted on a spindle, or in bearings or supports, so that it can be easily ro! tated. The vessel is rotated by being placed in connection, through suitable pulleys and band, toothed gear, or other convenient means,

with the rotating body, engine, machine, or instrument the speed of which it is desired to indicate, and the iiuid, when placed within it, rotates with it. I provide a iixed tube or vessel. supported by a suitable frame or bracket. The lower portion of this tube or vessel passes into the rotating vessel at its upper end, and at or near its axis. From this iixed tube or vessel avhollow arm projects, and terminates near the inner circumference of the rotating vessel, but not touching it. In this hollow arm, at or near its extremity, is an oriflee, through which the iiuid in the rotating vessel finds its level in the stationary tube or vessel. The orice referred to is so placed that when motion is given to the rotating vessel a portion of the uid in it is forced in at the orifice ofthe stationary tube or vessel, and as the pressure of the uid at the orifice is increased by an increase iu the speed of rotation, the fluid rises higher in the stationary tube or vessel, and so the height of the uid varies according to the speed of rotation given to the rotating vessel, and to the fluid contained in it.

In order to enforce and sustain the rotation of the uid as completely as possible in conby a shaft, spindle, wheel, l

formity with that of the vessel, I provide internal projections, connected with or being part of the rotating vessel. In forming these projections I leave a space sufficient so that they may not interfere with the part which projects from the lixed tube or vessel.

It will be understood that the projections used for insuring the rotation of the liquid with the vessel insure, at the same time, the due pressure of the liquid at the orifice, and the equivalent rise of the fluid in the indicating tube or vessel. The height of the iiuid so raised vmay represent, in conjunction with a scale, the number of revolutions (say, per minute) made either by the rotating vessel, or by the engine or body to which it is connected, and the speed of which it is 'desired to know. 'Ihe scale may also he marked for the liuid to indicate miles or other measures per hour, when the instrument is to be used for indicating the speed of locomotive engines and carriages.

In some cases I use a glass tube as the indicating-tube, with scale attached. This tube may be straight, and may rise directly from the fixed tube or vessel which passes into the rotating vessel; or it may be bent downward after it rises from the fixed vessel, but so as to clear the rotating vessel, and then upward, the downward run being sufficiently low to allow of the liquid rising in the final upward run to the height of the level of the liquid in the rotating vessel when it is at rest, and so exhibit the starting or zero point from which the liquid rises. In some cases the tube may he made partly horizontal, or may be curved to any required extent. In some cases I use a larger tube, rising from the fixed tube or vessel, which passes into the rotating vessel. This larger tube may be of glass or of metal. In it I use a float connected with dial and pointer, or other 'equivalent indicating means. The rise or fall of the liquid in the tube will, in this case, operate the iioat, and so cause the indication of speed by means of the pointer on the divided dial.

I also employ a float with means attached to indicate the height ofthe luid in the stationary tube or vessel, and, consequently, the

-speed of rotation of the rotating vessel, or otherwise, as before explained, of the machine,

. speed of rotation.

` by a bracket or frame,

engine, or body connected with it, when it is desired to register or record continuously or otherwise the rate ot motion or num ber of rev` olu tions (say, per minute) made or being made by the rotating vessel, or the machine, engine, or other body connected with it.- In suchcase I employ a time-piece, arranged, in connection -with my speed-indicator, so as to presentato a pencil actuated by the float ruled paper, on`

which a diagram is drawn through the combined actions of the time-piece and the tloat,

` which diagram forms, in the usual manner, a

y ruled in concentric circles and radiating lilies, andlcaused to turn `by a time-piece, while the.

pencil, in connection with thelioat, may operate on a line from the circumference toward the center of the disk or dial. In this case the radiating ruled lines will represent time, andthe' concentric circles will represent the If preferred, the clock- Inovement may be arranged to work the'pencil 5 or it may work a pointer to piercethe paper, the paper beingmoved by the iioat. Mercury, water, or other suitable fluid `may be used for my speed-indicator.

The rotating vessels for my improved speed indicators may be made cylindrical, or of other suitable form, and maybe furnished with a cover,lor otherwise maybe constructed intwo` convenient parts, securely lixed together, to

prevent the escape ofthe liquid attheir junction and when a fixed central tube or vessel passes througha hole in the cover or upper part of r the rotating vessel, and, further, when this tube or vessel is iirmly supported it may be titted to the hole in the cover or upper part of the rotating y vessel, and form a bearin g or support to steady the `.vessel in its revolutions.

In order that my said `invention may be most fully understood and readilylcarried into ed'ect, I will proceed to describethe drawings hereunto annexed.

Figure l is an elevation,-Fig. 2 a vertical section,and Fig. 3 a horizontal section, otone l arrangement ot' my speed-indicator.

The vessel A contains the tluid. The spindle B is xed to the lower portion ot the'vessel A, and on it is a pulley, U, by .which it l maybe rotated. The spindle B is pivoted in a bearing at a. An upper bearing is provided at b. The small holes cc serve to admit the air into the vessel, as the tluid` is forced out of it l upward into the indicating glass tube F, and l the radial projections H "H serve vto compel fthe liquid` to rotatewith the `vessel A. The

`cl when the vessel A is at rest.

nid.

`sel A.

fixed tube or vessel d is attached to the upper or bracket part ot' the frame E, to which it is secured. The hollow arm e projects from the tube d, and has its orifice at f. Through this orice the fluid tinds its level in the tube When motion is given to the vessel A a portion of the lluid in the vessel is forced in at the orifice j', and so into the tube r1, and upward (according to the speed ot' rotation) into the indicating glass tube F. I is a iloat resting on the` liq- It is of' such a length as to be visible in the tube F when its upper end is at the zeropoint m of the scale, when the apparatus is at rest.

rllhe scale G may bemarked for reading oli'Y the result in miles, quantities, revolutions of y ing to such circumstances.. `and in accordance with the rise ot' the fluid attained by the speed ot' rotation employed. Thelengthot the indieating-tube F should be suited to thcfnll range ot' indication desired, or to the highest speed at -which it is intended torotate the ves- Fig. etis anelevation, partly in sectiomof an apparatus similar in the main to that shown in Figs. 1, 2. 3. Here, in case ofthe intended highest speed being accidentally eX- ceeded, a reservoir, F', is provided to prevent the overflow 1of the tluid. The lower end ot the tube F is itted and cemented into the socket g,which is screwed into the bracket `part of frame E. A band, h, encircles the `head of socket g, and the scale G is attached to itt'or support. H are internal projections (which,in this instance, are indicated as Form. ing part of the vessel A) for enforcing and sustaining the rotation of the fluid in conformity with that ot' the vessel, and causing'` it to pass into the orilicef. `The space leaves room for the passage of the arm e. represents Fig. 4 in plan at lineZ Z.

' Fig. 6 represents the arrangement of my speed-indicator in which a larger ixed tube is employed, and in which larger tube is placed a tloat in connection with dial and pointer. This figure also illustrates a means by which the rise ofthe oat Vmay communicate its action `to afpencil to ett'ect thelrecordiug of such action by diagram upon a -paperfcoveredcyliuder moved by clock-Work, after-thc manner ot' certain recording-instruments alreadywell known. In this figure the spindle B ot' vessel A is-shown supported by two bearings, aand a', placed belowlit, andthe upper part of ves'- sel A in thiscase, as in Figs. l, 2,3,is free, and does not touch the fixed tube or the upper part ot' Whichis `marked F.

rIhe air hasfree entrance to1the vesselA through the space allowedby thedifterence of diameters between the iixed tube dandl the hole in the top of the vessel A.

I's the float, which,when.1thetvessel Azie Fig. `5

vesseld, y

' the pointer j is placed.

' excessive speed ot' rotation.

rotated, iscaused to rise hy the forcing of the fluid into the oricef, as explained in respect to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Float I is connected by cord with pencil- ,slide J, which acts as a weight to keep the cord under tension and cause it to turn the pulley K, which is faston the spindle upon which It will thus be seen that the pointer is moved in accordance with the movementsoi' the oat I. It will also be seen that the pencil-slide J, owin g to its connection with thefloat I, will move in accordance with it, and trace its rise and fall upon the paper on thev cylinder L, which maybe connect-ed with clock-work so as, at the same time, to turn on its axis at any desired rate.

Fig. 7 shows a means by which, it' desired, the unequal rise ofthe uid, operating upon a oat in the manner shown in Fig. 6, may be compensated for on the scale ordial, so that the pointer may travel through nearly the same space for every equal number of rotations oi' the vessel A, and that, consequently,

the divisions on the dial may be made equal, or nearly so. In this, as in Figf, the action of the iioat is supposed to be communicated to pulley K, which is fixed to spindle 7c. On this spindle is also txed the cam l, which, when it is turned in the direction ofthe arrow by the rising ofthe iioat, will allow the slide m (to which a small roller is attached and arranged to act on the cam) tofall. It' the cam lis accurately formed, the slide m will fall through an equal space for each equal number ot' revolutions ot' the vessel lA`; and as the rack lm1 on slide m gears with pinion m2, tired to the pointer-spindle, the movement of the slide fm is communicated to the pointer. n n are supports for the dial, and form guides for the slide m, Which llas a long opening to allow the spindle 7c to pass. t

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement in which the iloat I is raised above the vessel A, so that, until the vessel A has attained to given speed ot' rotation, (during which time the tluid is ris'- ing in the tixed tube 61,) the tloat I remains at rest. When, however, the speed of rotation is increased, the loat is acted upon until it is raised in the tube or cylinder F. In this case the float is shown to operate by rack and pir.- ion, for indicating the extent of the motion, the effect of the motion of the iloat Ifbeing increased by the difference of diameters of the pinion and the drum or pulley K, to which latter a cord for transmitting the motion to an indicating or recording apparatus is shown attached. a is a tube, which may be applied, when desired, to restrict the height to which the float may be raised in case of an accidental In such case the iiuid will escape through the tube n, and will fall into the receiver al, and so, through openings nz, will return into the vessel A.

Ihe cylinder or tube'F is supported on a portion of a fixed frame, E, to which also the center tube d is xed. It will be understood that by this arrangement, not permitting the rise ofthe iluid to actuate the oat until a certain speed of rotation has been acquired, the range of indication or registration may be confined between any ranges of speed, as may l be desired.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the internal projections H, xed into a center boss. One boss, p, with its eight blades, is screwed to the upper part of vessel A, and another, p', to the lower.

Vessel A, in these ligures, is somewhat variedin form. The boss p has a hole in its center, to allow of the passage of the fixed center tube or vessel, which is not indicated in these figures. Passages c c are provided for the entrance and exit of air. Fig. 11 serves to illustrate more fully the means by which the zero or starting point can be brought into view. In the indicating-tube F is a float, I, long enough, so that its upper part is in view when the vessel A is atv rest.

When motion is given t0 the vessel the oat will be raised, its upper surface being read against a scale suitably fixed and graduated. The glass tube F is cemented into the xed tube or vessel-d. In Fig. 1 also a ioat, I, is

provided.

Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 represent various forms of projecting arms and oritices. In each figure, d is the central fixed tube or vessel, e the hollow arm, andf the orifice.

- In Figs. 16 and 17 the hollow arm e is shown projecting from the circular disk e', which operates to prevent the action of the full length ot the arm against the fluid.I

In Figs. 16 and 17 a means is shown of reversing the orifice f from one side ot' the hollow arm to the other, in order that when desired the vessel containing the fluid may be rotated in either direction. 'Ihe reversing of the oriice j' is obtained by the cylindrical valve q, which lits Freely in the tube r. This valve takes its position on one side or the other of the hollow in the arm e, according to the direction in which the fluid is moved. The pins s form stops for the valve g.

In Figs. 18 and 19, d is the central tube, e the projecting arm, and f the orifice. These last figures represent a small size arm and oriiice. The sizes of the fixed center tubes, theprojecting arms, and orifices will depend upon the size of the instrument and the use for which it is destined.

The disk e', in Figs. 16 and 17, may bel usedv or not, as preferred, in conjunction with any of the forms of projecting arms e shown.

In indicating'the similar parts in the various figures I have endeavored to use similar letters of reference in order to render it unnecessary to repeat the explanation of such parts.

My rotating vessels may be filled with the luid, or may sometimes be only partially filled. It will generally be' found advantageous to ll or nearly ll them, more especially when they serve for speed-indicators arranged to indicate from zero.

In arranging the drawings, which illustrate my invention, I have supposed mercury to be the fluid used.

I have shown my speed-indicators with open top indicating glass tubes, so that the upward rise of the fluid may not be impeded by the air in the tube; but, when preferred, as in the case of' a shorter and more equally graduated 'scale being desired, these tubes may be closed at the top and the scale suitably graduated. In such cases a reservoir for air of suitable size may be placed at the top of the tube, so that the rise of the :Huid will be checked to the desired extent by the resistance of the air in the tube and reservoir.

As errors in the indications may arise under this arrangement, owing to the expansion and contraction of the air, according to temperature, a cock or other means may be provided to equalize, when desired, the pressure of the air in the tube and reservoir to that of the outer air.

The indicator-tube, when closed at the end, may be placed horizontally or at an angle, and may be straight or spiral, the scale being graduated suitably.

In place of using a glass indicating-tube with closed end, in which the position ofthe uid is read by a scale, an ordinary pressurega-ge may, in some cases, be employed, attached to the central tube or vessel d, so asto be operated upon by air compressed by the force imparted to the Huid, accordingto the speed of rotation. In such case the dial-plate ofthe pressure-gage should be suitably graduated for speed. More than one oriiice,f, may be used when desired, connected with the center fixed vtube or vessel d.

Having thus described the nature of fmy said invention, and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim the mechanical parts separately; but

1. A speed-indicator constructed substantially as hereinbefore set forth, having a rotating vessel adapted to contain and carry round with it mercury or other liquid, and force the liquid into an orifice in a stationary arm sup.- ported within the rotating vessel, and through a channel leading from the orifice to a tube or vessel, in which, by virtue of the pressure ot' the liquid at the orifice, increasing with the speed of rotation of the vessel, it serves to indicate, or operates apparatus which will indicate, the speed ofthe rotating vessel, or other body or thing connected with it, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the supporting-frame, the vessel mounted so as to rotate freely therein, and provided with internal projections and a passage to admit air, the indicating-tube, and the hollow arm projecting into the vessel, and having an orifice at or near its end, into which the liquid in the vessel is caused forcibly to enter by jections as the vessel is revolved.

3. The combination ofthe supl'iorting-frame, the rotating vessel, the indicating-tube, the fixed centraltnbe or vessel connected at top with the indicating-tube, and the laterallyprojecting hollow arm connected at its upper end with said central tube, and having an orifice at its opposite end, these members being constructed `and operating `substantially as hereinbefore set forth.-

4. The combination of the rotating vessel, the stationary tube or vessel projecting upward therefrom, the hollow arm connected with said tube, and having a two-way orifice inits outer end, and the valve in said orifice, these members heilig constructed and operating substantially as hereinbet'ore set forth, whereby the liquid in the vessel passes to the hollow arm on one side or the other, according to the direction of rotation of' the vessel:

JAMES M. NAPIER.

Witnesses:

WILMER M. HARRIS, JN0. DEAN, y Both. of No. 17 Gracechurclt Street, London.

the internal pro- 

